Palm Sunday Bombings At 2 Coptic Churches In Egypt

ISIS has claimed responsibility for the bombings. 3 police officers were killed preventing the suicide bomber from entering the Alexandria church. The death count continues to rise.

Pope Tawadros had been at St. Mark’s in Alexandria and left before the blast to go to Tanta after hearing of the earlier blast there.

At least 38 people have been killed following two suspected suicide bombings at Coptic Christian services, Egypt‘s state television reported.

The first attack struck worshippers at a church in Tanta, outside Cairo. The second blast detonated outside the front doors of a church in Alexandria after three hero police officers prevented a suicide bomber from accessing the building.

According to General Tarek Atilya: ‘The explosion took place in the front rows, near the altar, during the mass.’ Witness Nabil Nader said: ‘I heard the blast and came running. I found people torn up… some people, only half of their bodies remained.’

More than 38 people have died in both attacks with in excess of 100 injuries.

A second blast happened outside a church in Alexandria killing 11 people and injuring a further 66, Egypt’s health ministry has confirmed.

In the second blast, a suicide bomber approached the church and detonated his vest after being stopped by police.

Three officers died after they prevented the killer from getting into the church and causing greater bloodshed.

Coptic Pope Tawadros II had said Mass in Alexandria before the explosion. DailyMail

Video: St. George’s in Tanta. The bomb was in “the front rows, near the altar, during the mass.” Some of the deacons seen in the video were killed or injured.